World TravellerGuide to travelling the world

There aren’t many places on our planet that have the magic that the Nile in Egypt does.
Remnants of one of the most fascinating ancient civilisations come in the form of pyramids, tombs, temples and obelisks making the area one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

One of the best ways to make sure you get to see the best that Egypt and the Nile has to offer is to take Nile Cruises. Almost all of the major historic sites you could wish to see are located along the banks, making travelling along this famous river a great way to cover the must see sites.

Another reason that travelling on a cruise is better than making your way around the region yourself is the fact you do not have to pack and unpack when you want to visit a new location. Having the cruise ship as your central base allows you to relax and just hop off at each of the stops on your itinerary.

Different cruise itineraries will include differing port of calls on your majestic journey but you can expect to visit some of the following locations and sights.
The temple of Karnak is actually more like a city of temples and pillars, covering an area greater than the Notre Dame Cathedral. This fantastic historic site took over 2000 years to build and is truly awe inspiring.

The Valley of the Kings is surely the highlight of many people’s trip to Egypt, with amazing richly decorated and treasured filled tombs carved into the rock side, acting as the final resting place of many pharaohs including the legendary Tutankhamen.  Most tours will include a visit to one of the tombs allowing you to discover how these ancient people were laid to rest, usually in the nearby Valley of the Queens.

When you aren’t stopping off at the major attractions you will witness the rural side of Egypt that has remained relatively unchanged over the years and something many tourists do not get to see.

Whether you opt for a three day or a six day cruises you are bound to have a trip you will never forget as you explore the wondrous sites of the Nile and Egypt. Truly a holiday of a lifetime.

When a person is asked to think about luxury safaris they may immediately envisage the open plains of South Africa’s Kruger Park or perhaps the iconic Maasai Mara of Southern Kenya. People are however often surprised when they discover that the true home of the modern luxury safari  is in fact Botswana; a nation that for some may lack the immediate prominence of other destinations but which in reality veils a land of beauty, diversity and intrigue.

Botswana is nestled north of South Africa, sandwiched between Namibia to the east and Zimbabwe to the west. Its geography is dominated by the vast Kalahari Desert but don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a land of desolation; Botswana is an incredibly diverse and vibrant country perhaps epitomised by the juxtaposition between the great Kalahari and the Okavango Delta one of Africa’s great desert regions and the world’s largest in land delta; the Makgadikgadi Pan also lies to the north, the salty remnants of an ancient Lake larger than the area of Switzerland which dried up several thousand years ago. Botswana is as has been evidenced a land of extremes in both scale and ecology, a coalescence that produces a completely unique sense and one that more and more discerning travellers are beginning to discover.

The Okavango Delta to the north of the country promises perhaps the most eclectic range of wildlife and plant life in the country. The region’s extensive flood plains serve as a perennial water source to a wide variety of species including the unique swimming lions of the Okavango (lions normally avoid water). The nearby Chobe National Park is Botswana’s oldest and third largest conservation area; particularly renowned for its elephant population which is the densest in Africa. Chobe is one of the most popular attractions in Botswana in no small part also thanks to its close proximity to the Victoria Falls on the Zambia/Zimbabwe border. Travellers can easily transfer to the falls, the world’s largest waterfall, from Chobe in order to observe the immense size and power of this incredible natural phenomenon.

Another conservancy in the Okavango area, the Moremi Game Reserve, has also been established as a renowned wildlife haven with a vast array of animals on display including buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyaena, jackal, impala, and red lechwe.  Guests can choose to explore the Okavango by 4×4, foot or even take a canoe or boat ride along the serpentine waterways each format offering its own fascinating perspective.

Further south in the central plains we find the extensive Kalahari Desert which as opposed to most identified deserted areas actually supports a great spectrum of life including mammals, birds, reptiles and plant species. After the rainy season, November- March the area actually promises excellent grazing and thus attracts a wide range of animals including giraffe, brown hyena, warthog, cheetah, wild dog, leopard, lion and blue wildebeest. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second largest conservation area in the world covering an area of about 52,800 sq km.

There are a fantastic collection of reserves, lodges, camps and other properties available to travellers hoping to venture to Botswana such as Muchenje lodge, an intimate 20 guest community nestled in the Chobe National Park; the award winning Sanidbe Lodge also found in the Okavango Delta or Selinda Camp a stunning group of tented guest rooms set in the Linyanti floodplains. Wherever you go in Botswana you are sure to be greeted with a smile by a local people who are as welcoming and warm as they are humble.